New Glasgow Regional Police are warning local people to be alert for door-to-door scammers posing as representatives of trusted local organizations.
Police say on Thursday a male was seen canvassing door-to-door claiming to be from a local non-profit organization and asking for donations.
Speaking Friday, Const. Ken MacDonald said that scam artists often pose as members of respectable organizations, as it can trick people into letting their guard down and trusting them as legitimate.
“They have scammed us out of extremely large amounts of funds and public services as well,” MacDonald told The News.
Police say that very few non-profits canvass door-to-door and when they do so, it is well-advertised, registered with the town and the people involved are local citizens known in the neighbourhood.
MacDonald added that any legitimate representatives of organizations should have proper ID to show potential donors. They will also be willing to come back once it is checked further.
Anyone who doubts people collecting door-to-door donations can call the organization in question and make a donation another way, such as online via their website.
People can also use Nova Scotia’s 211 service which can help in gaining the proper information to contact agencies.
Most important, anyone who thinks they are the victim of a scam should call police immediately. This is especially important when dealing with door-to-door scammers, as the faster police respond, the more chance they have of making a speedy arrest.
MacDonald warned people at the receiving end of such scams not to give out any personal information.
“Scammers are trying to gain your trust – they try to make it very realistic,” said MacDonald.
He said that scammers operate using several methods: door-to-door, via mail, the phone and online. Their increasingly sophisticated tactics even include infiltrating social networks and online dating sites to steal personal information and make a fast buck.
An ongoing issue is telephone scammers claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency, threatening people with legal action unless payment is sent immediately.
MacDonald said that scammers and fraudsters of all stripes leave multiple victims in their wake.
He warned that scammers face a number of Criminal Code charges if caught. If convicted, scammers will face hefty fines, possible jail time and a criminal record that may hamper their ability to find legitimate work or travel abroad.
Anyone who falls victim to a scam should call New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941.
Those wishing to stay anonymous can call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online via a secure, encrypted form at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=202.
Calls to Crime Stoppers are not taped or traced and any information that leads to a conviction may make callers eligible for a cash prize.
In an emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
